Central Manhattan – the biggest attractions (map, sightseeing plan, tickets, interesting facts)

New York City Sightseeing Plan

This entry is part of a large guide to New York, which is available at: New York - sightseeing plan [click].
If you are here and have skipped the main post, then definitely I recommend that you read it first. It contains a lot of practical advice related to moving around the city, access to attractions, organizing sightseeing, access to the Internet, etc. It contains additional maps with the location of all attractions, supporting the creation of your own routes and sightseeing plans, and a lot of helpful information allowing for quick orientation in the area.

In the main post you will find plans and descriptions of tours of some of the most interesting neighborhoods in New York:
- Central Manhattan
- Upper Manhattan
- Lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty
- Brooklyn (neighborhoods: Brooklyn Heights, Dumbo, Williamsburg)

Walking Tour of Midtown Manhattan

In this chapter I assume that you already know everything I wrote about in the main guide to New York and I focus on detailed information needed for sightseeing. The text has been organized in such a way that it can be used quickly and conveniently during a walk.

The Midtown Manhattan tour will be split into two days. Day one (Area A) these will be typical city attractions, such as famous places in the city, historical buildings, viewing terraces, etc.
On the second day (Area B) we will focus on higher culture by visiting a museum and a theater on Broadway. Each of the attractions on the second day requires a larger time reservation, so I decided not to combine them with sightseeing. In addition, such an organization of sightseeing allows for easy modification of the plan, which I will write about in more detail later in the text.

The location of areas on the map of New York, allowing you to quickly find out which part of the city you will be visiting, is presented on the simple map below.

Links to guides to other areas can be found in the entry: New York – sightseeing plan [click]

Area A – (day 1)

We will start our tour of New York with a bang, because the first point of the program will probably be the craziest and most crazy place on earth, namely: Times Square. There is probably no better place to start getting to know New York. You will quickly get into the city's atmosphere here and you will stay in this atmosphere until the end of the tour.
Along the way, we will visit many legendary places, look at the city from above, from observation decks located almost in the clouds, and pass countless attractions that I did not even include in the plan. So expect surprises along the way, which you will discover on your own! Pleasure of sightseeing guaranteed!

Attractions on the tour route: (1) Times Square – (2) Radio City Music Hall – (3) Top of The Rock – (4) Rockefeller Center – (5) St. Patrick's Cathedral – (6) New York Public Library – (7) SUMMIT One Vanderbilt – (8) Grand Central Station – (9) Morgan Library & Museum – (10) Empire State Building – (11) Flatiron – (12) Theodore Roosevelt's childhood home

Route length: 4,5 km (2,7 miles)
Walking time (excluding time spent visiting attractions): 1 hour 30 minutes

The short length of the route and the short walking time may be misleading for you. There are many attractions along the route that you have to visit. Just visiting them requires a lot of extra time (not to mention the extra kilometers). It will take you a whole day to cover all the points of the tour, and you may even run out of time or energy.

On the map below you will find the location of all the attractions that we want to see on the first day of visiting Midtown Manhattan. Each attraction has its own unique number, which is identical and repeated in all entries related to the New York guide. The same numbers are visible in the headings of the chapters devoted to the description of a given attraction and in the tables of contents. This allows you to easily and quickly navigate through the entire guide and reach the information you need.

Area B – (day 2)

I planned the second day of visiting Central Manhattan to be much lighter. There will be only two, but quite time-consuming attractions. In the first part of the day, I planned a visit to one of the most important museums of modern art in the world, MoMA, or the Museum of Modern Art. After visiting the museum, there will be a short break to change and prepare for a performance at one of the musical theaters on Broadway. I assure you that even if you are not interested in this type of art and are an individual who is particularly resistant to artistic impressions, the level and quality of the performances offered here will probably make your jaw drop. You simply cannot miss it. Artists do amazing things on stage here every day.
Of course, this arrangement of attractions is not accidental. I assumed that not everyone would be interested in such a set of proposals. So if you give up an attraction on the second day, there will be a place. to make it a bit easier for yourself on the full first day. Attractions numbered 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are best suited for such a modification because they are located close to the MoMa museum and Broadway theaters.
This tour arrangement also gives you the opportunity to make a second attempt at the nearby Top of The Rock (3) or SUMMIT One Vanderbilt (7) observation deck in case you are unable to obtain tickets on your first day.

Attractions on the tour route: (13) MoMA (Museum of Modern Art)
– (14) Broadway Theater
Route length: 1,6 km (1 mile)
Walking time (excluding time spent visiting attractions): 20 minutes

Description of attractions in Midtown Manhattan

1 Times Square

Times Square is different from any other square I know. It defies all stereotypes and I have the impression that it lives and functions according to its own rules, created only by itself and for itself. The number of things that happen there at the same time is indescribable. Performances by street artists, concerts, preachers of various religions, converting the world through loudspeakers, street gambling, attractions for children, walking mascots, gastronomy, scantily clad naturists posing for photos, vendors, con artists, pickpockets... it is simply impossible to list everything. The entire pulsating crowd is drowning in the flickering lights of gigantic advertisements that cover almost the entire facades of the skyscrapers surrounding the square. And here is an interesting fact! Times Square is one of the few places where obligation to mount advertisements!!! Yes! The city has introduced a mandatory order to mount advertisements and buildings must have appropriately sized advertisements installed. The bigger the better 🙂 Crazy place!
The square was originally named Longacre Square. The name was changed in 1904 when The New York Times moved its headquarters here.
In 1907, the newspaper launched the New Year's Eve Ball Drop, a tradition that continues to this day. The ball begins its descent from the flagpole atop One Times Square at exactly 43:23 p.m. The descent lasts 59 seconds, and when the ball reaches the bottom, the clock strikes midnight, signaling the beginning of a new year. The event is watched live in Times Square by about 60 million people, and the televised event is watched by almost 1 billion people worldwide.
The first ball was made of wood and iron. The modern version of the ball, in use since 2008, is much more impressive. It is a 3,7-meter-diameter structure weighing over 5 kg. It is covered with 000 Waterford crystals and equipped with 2688 LEDs, allowing it to display millions of colors and light patterns.
The energy in Times Square is incredible. The square is visited by over 50 million tourists a year, making it one of the most visited places in the world. About 330 people pass through it daily.

Times Square, GPS coordinates:
40°45’32.0″N 73°59’06.6″W
40.758900, -73.985166 - click and route

2. Radio City Music Hall

For music lovers Radio City Music Hall Nowadays, it can be associated mainly with the place where famous music awards were presented, including: Grammy Awards and MTV Video Music Awards. However, since its opening in 1932, the hall has become one of the most recognizable venues, earning the title of the largest indoor auditorium in the world. Although larger venues exist today, it remains one of the largest and most impressive theaters.
Designed in the Art Deco style by architects Edward Durrell Stone and Donald Deskey, the building is known for its elegant patterns and luxurious materials that capture the spirit of the 30s. Radio City Music Hall is home to the famous dance troupe Rockettes, which gained worldwide fame thanks to its dance style based on perfect synchronization of movements.
The hall boasts the largest curtain in the world, which is 20 meters long and 11 meters high. Interestingly, it is still operated manually by an entire team of stage technicians. Currently, the hall hosts mainly star concerts, award ceremonies, and unique performances.
It is one of those objects that are worth stopping for a moment and taking a closer look at, even though it does not look impressive from the outside 🙂
It is also possible to tour the interior.

Radio City Music Hall, GPS coordinates:
40°45’35.7″N 73°58’48.9″W
40.759919, -73.980240 - click and route

3.Top of The Rock

Observation deck Top of The Rock is located on top of the tallest building in the complex Rockefeller Center. It should be noted, however, that Top of The Rock is not one, but three observation decks located on the 67th, 69th and 70th floors. The most attractive is of course the one located at the top, especially since it is also the highest observation deck in the open air.
Some say this is the terrace with the best views of New York, especially at sunset and after dark. It offers views of the city's most iconic landmarks, and the fact that it is outdoors and has no visibility restrictions (e.g. overhead through the floor of the next floor) undeniably adds to the charm.

It is worth recalling that it was during the construction of this building that a photo was taken of workers eating breakfast on a steel beam suspended 69 floors above New York.

You can find more about the observation deck in a special post dedicated to it. Top of The Rock – [click], here, however, due to restrictions on access to admission tickets and the great popularity of this attraction, I will add a few words about the possibilities of purchasing them.

Top of the Rock tickets are sold for a specific day and time of entry. It is not possible to enter the terrace outside of the designated entry times.
Luckily, they can be purchased online, so booking a ticket for the right time becomes a piece of cake. All that remains is to decide whether you want to buy a regular ticket. ticket to the Top of the Rock terrace – [click], or maybe (if you also intend to visit other attractions) opt for a cost-effective ticket package, e.g. New York CityPASS – [click] including entry to several select attractions in New York. I recommend taking the time to check out the offer, because in many cases you can save a lot of dollars.

check out: single tickets to Top of the Rock – [click]

check out: New York CityPASS ticket package – [click]

New York CityPASS is the most popular, but not the only ticket package in New York. In my case, due to the huge number of attractions I planned to visit, I had to use other ticket sets. Below I am posting links to two sets of packages. Some of them include entrance tickets to several specific attractions imposed in advance, and some are so-called flexible packages. In them, you can choose a large part of the attractions yourself. Click, check and choose the best solution for you!

check out: Tiqets Ticket Packages in New York – [click]

check out: GYG New York Ticket Packages – [click]

Top of the Rock is open daily, usually from an hour 9: 00 do 23: 00. Last entry to the terrace is at approximately 22:00 p.m.

Entrance to Top of The Rock, GPS coordinates:
40°45’33.7″N 73°58’45.6″W
40.759361, -73.979333 - click and route

4. Rockefeller Center

Rockefeller Center is a complex of 19 buildings, including 30 Rockefeller Plaza, at the top of which is the popular Top of the Rock observation deck. It is located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, between 5th and 6th Avenues and between 48th and 51st Streets.
The center was built in the 30s, during the Great Depression, as a huge commercial project initiated by the Rockefeller family, one of the wealthiest and most influential families in America. In 1928, John D. Rockefeller Jr. decided to implement a project that was to become a new business and cultural center of New York. The original plan was to create a new building for the Metropolitan Opera, but due to financial difficulties related to the Depression, the Rockefellers changed the concept to a commercial center.
Rockefeller Center was the world's first commercial complex to be built on such a large scale, including not only office buildings but also recreational and cultural spaces. Opened in 1933, it became a symbol of modernity, economic stability and architectural progress. It is still considered one of the most important achievements of American architecture.

On Rockefeller Plaza, next to the sculpture of Prometheus, the famous ice rink opens every October. It is surrounded by countless Christmas decorations and light decorations. If you are here at that time, be sure to visit the ice rink after dark to experience and feel the atmosphere. Skating is not mandatory 🙂 The ice rink usually closes around April.
Right next door, the famous New York Christmas tree is erected above the ice rink in November. The Lighting Ceremony, usually broadcast live, gathers crowds and attracts millions of viewers around the world. This tradition dates back to 1931, when workers building Rockefeller Center erected the first, modest Christmas tree.

Rockefeller Square, GPS coordinates:
40°45’31.4″N 73°58’43.2″W
40.758732, -73.978659 - click and route

5. St. Patrick's Cathedral

St. Patrick's Cathedral is one of the most important religious monuments in the United States, and at the same time the largest neo-Gothic church in the United States. Construction of the cathedral began in 1858, but had to be suspended due to the Civil War. It was not resumed until the 70s, and the official opening took place in 1879.
The cathedral was built on the site of a former cemetery for the Jesuits and a hospital for orphans and the poor run by the Catholic clergy. This location was chosen intentionally as a symbol of the renewal and rebirth of the Catholic community in New York. The interior of the cathedral is richly decorated with stained glass windows, most of which were made in Europe, mainly in France, England and Germany. These stained glass windows depict biblical scenes and figures of saints.
In 2012, a major renovation of the cathedral (both the interior and exterior of the cathedral) began, costing approximately $177 million.

St. Patrick's Cathedral, GPS coordinates:
40°45’31.8″N 73°58’36.7″W
40.758821, -73.976859 - click and route

6. New York Public Library

The New York Public Library (NYPL) is one of the largest and most famous libraries in the world. Its vast holdings were created by the merger of several private collections with foundation holdings. Today, the library has one of the largest collections of books, manuscripts, and archives in the world. Its holdings include over 50 million items, including books, maps, manuscripts, photographs, and works of art. The collections are stored in vast underground storage facilities that stretch beneath Bryant Park.

The most important treasures of the library are:

Gutenberg Bible – One of only a few copies of the first book printed on a printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in 1450–1455.

Manuscripts – an extensive collection of manuscripts, including Isaac Newton's notes, Walt Whitman's manuscripts, and letters from famous figures such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.

Maps and atlases – the library houses one of the world’s largest collections of historical maps, including the 1513 Map of the New World (one of the first to depict the American continents).

Rose Main Reading Room – one of the largest reading rooms in the world. It is almost 90 meters long, has ornate ceilings and huge windows. Unfortunately, access to it is limited and it is usually not possible to enter to take a photo.
The library building is often used as a setting for feature films (e.g. "Ghostbusters" (1984), "Breakfast at Tiffany's" (1961) or "Independence Day" (1996)).

The Gutenberg Bible and selected maps and manuscripts are of course on display in the library and can be viewed. Admission to the library is free.

Library opening hours:
Monday - Saturday: 10:00 - 18:00
Sunday: closed (except for selected months when it is open from 13:00pm to 17:00pm)

New York Public Library, GPS coordinates:
40°45’10.7″N 73°58’54.3″W
40.752969, -73.981762 - click and route

7. SUMMIT One Vanderbilt

SUMMIT One Vanderbilt is not an ordinary observation deck. It is a combination of a modern, excellent observation point with an art installation and optical illusions. Honestly, I thought that the advertising photos of the terrace were a bit deceiving and that on the spot it would turn out that it is not as interesting as in the photos. And in reality? The reality turned out to be even more interesting. The omnipresent mirrors create the impression of infinity, which opens not only to the horizon where the wonderfully looking city stretches around. Infinity also stretches up and down ... in fact, it goes in all directions! The mirror installation wonderfully deceives our senses! We feel as if suspended in the middle of this infinity stretching everywhere, we are as if the center of the world from which everything originates, and then there is New York, the sky, subsequent layers of reality and so on to infinity. Simply GREAT! Attractive, ultra modern and with an idea! I have been there and would go again, although it is not cheap.

As for specifics, it is enough to know that the terrace is located at the height of the 96th floor (about 325 meters above the ground), which means that we are looking at most of the buildings in the city from above (only three skyscrapers in New York are higher).

The whole consists of several installations:
Air – the installation I liked the most. It combines art with infinite space thanks to mirrored walls and floors, creating the illusion of being suspended in the air.

Levitation – glass platforms that you can stand on extend beyond the building’s façade, offering the thrill of “levitating” above the streets of New York. For many, this is one of the most memorable moments of their visit to Summit One Vanderbilt.

Affinity – an interactive installation in which we walk among freely floating giant silver balloons, creating our own unique way of interacting with art.

You can find more about the attractions in a separate entry: SUMMIT One Vanderbilt – [click]

The attraction has won the hearts of tourists, so there are more people willing to go than there are places. You buy a ticket for a specific day and time. I recommend doing it in advance. The ticket distributor provides a calendar that takes into account the availability of tickets in real time. You can find this calendar below. Days highlighted in the calendar mean that there are still tickets. However, I recommend checking this carefully! Why? If, for example, there is only one ticket left for 21:30 p.m. on a given day, then such a day will be visible in the calendar as highlighted, suggesting that tickets are still available. In practice, tickets for the most popular times of visits sell out really quickly, so if you want to see if you still have a chance to get a ticket, first select the day and then look through the list of available times. Otherwise, you may be in for an unpleasant surprise.

Another way to purchase a ticket is to purchase a ticket package (often at a discounted price) that includes admission to SUMMIT One Vanderbilt. This is often a better and cheaper option. Below are links to two sources for different ticket packages that include admission to SUMMIT One Vanderbilt.

check out: SUMMIT packages on Tiqets – [click]

check out: packages for SUMMIT on GYG – [click]

Please allow approximately 60 to 90 minutes for your visit to SUMMIT One Vanderbilt.
The terrace is open every day:
Monday - Thursday: 9:00 - 22:00
Friday - Sunday: 9:00 - 24:00
Children under 5 years of age can enter for free.

SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, GPS coordinates:
40°45’09.9″N 73°58’43.4″W
40.752736, -73.978733 - click and route

8. Grand Central Station

Grand Central is really a topic for a separate post. There are many mysterious and unexplained stories connected to it, related to its role and functioning. Its mysterious nooks and crannies are a source of adventure for urban explorers who like to look where there is still a lot to discover.

Peron 61
An example is the mysterious, isolated Platform 61. It is located about 60 meters underground and is directly connected to the former Waldorf-Astoria hotel by an elevator and a system of passages. Researchers claim that the mysterious platform was used by President Roosevelt to discreetly and safely arrive on various business in New York. However, no credible or official explanation has been given as to the reasons for its construction or purpose. The mysterious station ceased to be used at the turn of the 60s and 70s, and the entrances and elevators leading to it were welded shut. It has remained in this state since today.
However, it must be objectively admitted that Platform 61 and the railway tunnels leading to it remain well secured and protected, as few people manage to get there on their own to explore them. There are few photos and videos of illegal explorations on the internet, but sometimes you can find something. They show that there are still tracks and train cars in the underground railway tunnels.
In 2003, an unusual situation occurred when the tunnel was heavily guarded by Secret Service agents during a visit by President George W. Bush.

A short informational video on this topic produced by CNN illustrating the Platform 61 case is posted below:

However, let us focus on what can be seen without much effort and is no less interesting than the aforementioned mysteries.

Brilliant project
You will probably enter Grand Central Station through one of the side entrances… and that’s a good thing! One of them is even very conveniently located, right next to our previous attraction SUMMIT One Vanderbilt. The side entrances are very atmospheric (they have retained their old character) and give you the opportunity to observe one of the most interesting architectural solutions, which most modern and contemporary stations cannot cope with. Grand Central was opened in early 1913, long before the popular suitcases on wheels appeared and became popular. However, the station was designed in such a way that you can get everywhere without having to climb stairs!!! Everything is accessible via flat or slightly sloping corridors. Travelers with heavy suitcases are not afraid of a failure of the elevator, escalator, or power outage, and people in wheelchairs can move around without restrictions. Brilliant!

Main hall
Moving along the sloping corridors, you will reach the impressive main hall of the station. Its size and presence are amazing. The huge, ornate room is fantastically lit both by artificial light and natural light coming through the huge windows. I have seen the interior of Grand Central in frames of many feature films shot here, but standing under the roof of this huge hall, the impression is incomparably greater.

Mirrored ceiling?
Once you get the hang of it, pay attention to two peculiar things. The first is the ceiling. You'll immediately notice that there's a painting on the ceiling that beautifully reproduces the starry sky. However, you probably won't notice that while the representation of the sky is quite precise, in reality the stars in the sky are arranged differently... Right? Exactly! The position of the stars on the ceiling is a mirror image of the real arrangement of the stars. After some time, when someone realized that the painting was done poorly, a version appeared that it was intentional, that this was the artistic intention, so that the sky at Grand Central Station would be seen the other way around. As if you were looking at the stars not from Earth but from space 🙂
Apart from the fact that when you look at the stars from a different point in space you see a completely different arrangement, then:
– first of all, if it was actually a view from space, the Earth would also be visible, but I don't see it in the painting
- and secondly (and this is the funniest part) the entire sky is painted upside down, and the Orion constellation is painted normally (i.e. not upside down)
Paradoxically, if everything was painted well, it would be a nice ceiling and that's it. However, the fact that practically everything in this painting is fucked up makes everyone come to the station, crane their necks and look at this unique oddity on a universe scale. I recommend it!

Clock
The second thing I would like to draw attention to is the clock located at the information point in the middle of the hall. Its four faces are made using giant opal crystals (although there is a conspiracy theory that it is not opal but ordinary milky glass that reacts to light in this way, iridescent beautifully). Thanks to these rare opal specimens, the clock is currently valued at 20 million dollars. As an additional curiosity, I will add that there is no mechanism inside the clock ball. It is located in the middle of the information point.

For the curious
The station has a so-called Whisper Gallery. It is a place where, despite the noise prevailing in the station, two people standing in opposite corners of the room are able to communicate in whispers.
Where is the Whisper Gallery? You will find it on the lower level. It is a room with a vaulted ceiling opposite the entrance to the “Oyster Bar & Restaurant”.
The way to stand and talk in order to take advantage of the acoustic peculiarities of the room is well demonstrated in the short video below.

Grand Central Station, GPS coordinates:
40°45’09.1″N 73°58’41.1″W
40.752521, -73.978069 - click and route

9. Morgan Library & Museum

The Morgan Library & Museum is an extraordinary place not only because of its beautiful room filled with three-story wooden shelves (the Morgan Library), but also because of the contents on the library shelves. The library has a large collection of priceless literary and musical manuscripts. There are originals of works created by Charles Dickens, Honoré de Balzac, Jane Austen, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Mark Twain, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven and Franz Schubert, as well as old prints by Johannes Gutenberg, Albrecht Dürer and other printing pioneers.

The Morgan Library & Museum began as J.P. Morgan's private library. Morgan himself, one of the most powerful bankers of his time, amassed a staggering collection of rare books, manuscripts, and works of art. In 1906, Morgan commissioned renowned architect Charles Follen McKim of McKim, Mead & White to design a building to house his extraordinary collection.
In 1924, after Morgan's death, his son, J.P. Morgan Jr., decided to open his private collection to the public, transforming the library into a museum. Since then, the Morgan Library has grown into a full-fledged museum.

Because tickets are sold for a specific entry time, the museum recommends purchasing them in advance. I haven't found any ticket packages that include admission to the Morgan Museum, so we're left with buying a separate ticket.

Learn More: tickets to Morgan Library & Museum – [click]

Museum opening hours
Open:
– on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 to 17:00
– on Fridays from 10:30 to 19:00.

Closes at 16pm on Christmas Eve and 00pm on New Year's Eve.
Closed on Mondays, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years.

Morgan Library & Museum, GPS coordinates:
40°44’57.5″N 73°58’53.8″W
40.749294, -73.981604 - click and route

10. Empire State Building

The Empire State Building was intended from the very beginning to be an icon of the city and state of New York, and a symbol of all that is best, largest and generally the most… Even the name Empire State Building, which comes from the popular nickname Empire State commonly used for the state of New York, makes the intentions of the creators of the building clear. It was created to be a symbol and it became one!
Standing at the feet of this giant, it is hard to imagine that the skyscraper was built in just 58 weeks!!! On average, 4,5 floors were added each week, and when the construction pace reached a record, 10 floors were added in 14 days!!! The basis for such a high pace was the perfect organization of supplies and transport of materials to the construction site.
The opening of the skyscraper was spectacular. The main point of the opening ceremony was the moment when the building's lights were turned on. This was done remotely, using a special button, from Washington, over 350 km away, by the President of the United States, Herbert Hoover.
The completion of the Empire State Building temporarily halted the long-running race for the world's tallest building. It took over the title of tallest building from the Chrysler Building, which had been built just a few months earlier, and held the title for a record-breaking 41 years. Together with the antenna at the top of the building, it was the world's tallest man-made structure for 23 years. It lost the title to the Polish radio mast in Konstantynów (646 m), which was 203 m taller than the Empire State Building!

Curiosity
The spire at the top of the building was not a purely decorative element. It had a specific purpose. The designers intended it to be used for... mooring airships. However, practice verified these plans. The tests carried out made the designers realize that it was neither practical nor safe. Strong air movements combined with the high and inflexible structure of the skyscraper generated a significant risk of disaster. Years later, it turned out that New York, as the largest media center in the United States, needed exactly such a spire to install countless broadcast antennas.

Of course, the Empire State Building also has observation decks:
– The 86th floor terrace is open-air, allowing for direct views of the city. It is the most popular vantage point in the building, offering panoramic views of New York City, including Central Park, Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn, the Brooklyn Bridge and other landmarks. The terrace is accessible both day and night.

Learn More: Tickets for the 86th floor terrace of the Empire State Building – [click]

– the observation deck on the 102nd floor offers an even higher view of the city. It is a closed viewing point.
check out: tickets for the 102nd and 86th floor terraces of the Empire State Building – [click]

Entry to the observation deck (86th floor) at the Empire State Building is included in the price of the most popular ticket package: New York CityPASS – [click]

Opening hours
The Empire State Building is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m., with the last elevator to the observation deck leaving at 1:15 a.m.

Entrance to the Empire State Building, GPS coordinates:
40°44’53.4″N 73°59’05.9″W
40.748161, -73.984976 - click and route

11.Flatiron

The distinctive triangular building in the shape of a flat iron stands out in the Manhattan landscape and has been a symbol of innovation in urban architecture for over a hundred years. The association with the iron is so strong that over time the common name, which is a combination of two words "flat" + "iron", replaced its original name: Fuller Building (The construction of the skyscraper was commissioned by the Fuller Company).
The structure has been a source of admiration from the start, but also controversy – many critics claimed that its unusual shape and height would make it dangerous, especially in windy conditions (its narrowest part is only 2 metres wide). Despite these concerns Flatiron has stood the test of time and has become one of the icons of New York architecture. At 87 meters high (22 stories), at the time of its completion it was one of the tallest buildings in Manhattan and one of the first buildings constructed using a steel frame. Today, the steel frame structure has become the basis for the construction of modern skyscrapers.
The Flatiron is best photographed from Madison Square Park or Fifth Avenue.

Curiosity
The unusual shape of the building causes strong gusts of wind around its base. At the beginning of the 20th century, men gathered here for a while, counting on the attractions that the wind caused by lifting the dresses of unaware women.

Flatiron, GPS coordinates:
40°44’29.0″N 73°59’22.2″W
40.741396, -73.989502 - click and route

12. Theodore Roosevelt's childhood home

On this spot at 28 East 20th Street in Manhattan, Theodore Roosevelt, the twenty-sixth president of the United States, was born on October 27, 1858, and spent the first 14 years of his life. Later, as the area began to take on a more commercial character, the family moved uptown to 57th Street.
Unfortunately, the original president's house, which had stood here since 1848, was demolished (in 1916), because the city, developing at a crazy pace, needed new areas for commercial space. Three years later (after Roosevelt's death in 1919), the land was bought back and work began on rebuilding and precisely recreating the original house. The reconstruction was carried out with the utmost fidelity, with close cooperation from the president's family. The interiors of the house were furnished with original furniture from the Roosevelts' house and perfectly reflect the character and atmosphere of the apartments of the American elite during Roosevelt's childhood and youth.
The museum in the house features exhibits on Roosevelt's childhood, his political career and his influence on American history. It features personal items related to the Roosevelt family, such as books, paintings and documents from the life of the young Theodore.

The museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 16:00.
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Admission is free.

Theodore Roosevelt's childhood home, GPS coordinates:
40°44’19.4″N 73°59’20.4″W
40.738730, -73.988988 - click and route

13. MoMA (Museum of Modern Art)

If there is a place that can be called the home of contemporary art, the first one that comes to mind is MoMa. All because of the events that took place in 1929, when the initiative of Abby Rockefeller (and two other equally wealthy and influential women: Abby Aldrich and Mary Quinn Sullivan) led to the opening of the world's first museum dedicated to contemporary art. The Rockefeller family was still strongly involved in the development of the museum and expanding its collection.
The first exhibition to promote the opening of the museum was the work of the French impressionist Cezanne, which from today's perspective may seem uncontemporary. It is worth remembering, however, that the museum opened in 1929, and Cezanne had died only 23 years earlier. At that time, his works could be considered contemporary.
Currently, MoMA is the second largest contemporary art museum in the world (first place is taken by the Pompidou Centre in Paris). You will see works by artists exhibited in several sections:

Painting and Sculpture
Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Salvador Dalí, Vincent van Gogh, Jackson Pollock, Henri Matisse, Piet Mondrian, Joan Miró, Georgia O'Keeffe, Mark Rothko and Jasper Johns

in this pair:
"Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" (1907) - Pablo Picasso
"The Starry Night" (1889) - Vincent van Gogh
"Campbell's Soup Cans" (1962) - Andy Warhol
"Yeah. 31” (1950) – Jackson Pollock
"The Persistence of Memory" (1931) - Salvador Dalí

Photography
Cindy Sherman, Ansel Adams (19 works), Dorothea Lange (famous photo "Migrant Mother"), Walker Evans, Edward Weston

Drawing and Graphics
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Egon Schiele, Paul Klee, Louise Bourgeois

Architecture and Design
The collection includes famous designs such as:
– Gerrit Rietveld's "Red and Blue" chair
– Eames Lounge Chair by Charles and Ray Eames
– models of famous buildings, such as Le Corbusier's Villa Savoye
– posters, logos and packaging designs created by leading graphic designers.

and a huge selection of works in the fields of film, media, performing arts, books and artistic graphics, crafts and applied arts.

The museum is open every day (except Thanksgiving and Christmas):
Saturdays: 10:30 to 19:00
other days of the week: 10:30 to 17:30

Tickets to the museum are purchased for a specific day and can be purchased in advance online. Tickets are often cheaper on the ticket distributor's website than directly on the museum's website. As I write this, tickets are 10% cheaper on GYG than at the museum. Below are two links to the websites of two distributors. Just check and choose the more advantageous option.

Learn More: tickets to MoMA for GYG – [click]

Learn More: tickets to MoMA on Tiqets – [click]

14. Broadway Theater

Is it worth going to a Broadway show? Oh yes! Definitely YES! What happens on the Broadway stages is a completely different dimension of musical stage art. There is probably no other place in the world where you will see something at an equally high level. And it's not just about vocal, dance, etc. Everything is perfect here: stage design, lighting, audio and video, new technologies ... everything is boiling with perfection pushed to the limits. So it is not an experience only for lovers of this art. It is a real experience for anyone who wants to experience something unique in every way.
It knocked me out of my shoes and I would go again without a moment's hesitation.

How to choose a Broadway theater?
Once you decide to go to a Broadway show, you'll quickly realize that the choice isn't so easy. There are dozens of theaters here, and some of them have several different shows on. The choice is huge, and therefore not easy at all. There's a ton of information on the internet about legendary shows that you have to see, but upon closer inspection, it turns out that they're no longer being performed. I know because I've been there.
So I'm not going to describe the entire Broadway offer. You'll get some key information from me and, as usual, a few links that make life easier (or if you need additional information, check out a separate entry: Broadway - the best musicals, tickets, theaters

First, you need to know that not every theater located in the so-called Theater District is a Broadway theater. There are about 41 venues that meet the criteria of a Broadway theater. Walking the streets of the Theater District, you will pass countless theaters. Some of them are theaters referred to as Off-Broadway, meaning they do not meet the criteria of a Broadway theater. Even if you knew all the rules for evaluating theaters, you would not be able to tell from the street which theater is Broadway and which is not. You must choose the theater and the show in advance, preferably in the comfort of your home.
Tickets for the best shows sell out even months in advance. You can often still buy a ticket at the last minute, but these are usually the worst-located seats in terms of visibility, etc. A reasonable time in advance to buy a ticket is at least three months. Then you usually still have a choice of well-located seats.
Broadway tickets are not cheap. All online sales systems show prices starting from the lowest available, e.g. prices from $70. You probably won't decide on the cheapest option (usually seats with poor visibility). Be prepared to pay twice as much for a ticket in a decent seat.
Most theaters don't require any special attire. In practice, audience members dress for the occasion in a moderately formal manner, and some in evening wear.
If your English is poor, choose a show where the narration plays a secondary role (e.g. MJ the Musical, a short recap of Michael Jackson's life and songs), or one that tells a story you already know (e.g. The Lion King, Aladdin, or Chicago). Language limitations are then of little consequence.

Below you will find several links. The first one leads to a list of currently available performances. Productions that are not available automatically disappear from this list. This is very convenient because it saves a lot of time.

Learn More: list of Broadway shows – [click]

The following links (actually posters with the current ticket availability calendar from GetYourGuide) lead to a few specific, top-rated and most-watched shows currently in theaters that I have selected. The productions with the highest ratings are at the beginning, although this hierarchy is a bit forced. All the shows I have selected are the very top and top league of Broadway.

- MJ the Musical [click]

A story about Michael Jackson's life with lots of brilliantly recreated songs. It has won awards and is currently the highest rated show on Broadway by experts.

- Moulin Rouge! The Musical [click]

Moulin Rouge is a spectacle filled with an atmosphere of stunning Baroque splendor, romance, glitz, luxury. A world of aristocracy, champagne and pleasure without limits.

- The Lion King [click]

The well-known and beloved Disney story with Oscar-winning songs by Elton John and Tim Rice. A colorful and moving story in a unique edition.

- Aladdin [click]

Another Disney tale brought to the Broadway stage. The stunningly colorful production rightly garners top ratings.

- Chicago [click]

Travel back to the days of prohibition and crime, accompanied by the captivating sounds of music. Illegal deals, greed and murders make the atmosphere as dense as possible.

Hotels and lodging in New York

Below I am posting a few links to hotels in New York. However, it would be madness to recommend only a few specific hotels in such a large city. The offer of New York (in this case on booking.com) is almost inexhaustible. For this reason, do not treat my suggestions as a specific indication of the hotels that I recommend. Treat them as a good start for further searches. The links I have posted use the search engine mechanism, which, in addition to a specific hotel, always offers other, similar offers, often more attractively priced. Additionally, the links contain filters prepared by me. They prevent the display of many offers that could unnecessarily clutter the search results and appropriately narrow the search area to the area that interests us. So you do not have to do it manually every time. I recommend using these links, because they make the search easier and save time.

Four Points by Sheraton New York Downtown – [click]

Hyatt Place New York Chelsea – [click]

JG Sohotel – [click]

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